Did Man Really Walk on the Moon?

An elaborate hoax or one small step for mankind?  At the 9th Patrick Moore lecture on Thursday 21st February at 7.30pm at the University of Birmingham’s School of Physics and Astronomy the science behind the lunar landing will be examined. 

Dr Martin Hendry from the University of Glasgow will take a closer look at the so-called ‘moon hoax’.  In the lecture he will use practical demonstrations to investigate and repudiate the claims of the conspiracy theorists.

Dr Hendry says, ‘According to a recent poll, 6% of Americans believe the moon landings were faked, filmed here on earth, and the result of a NASA conspiracy.  The topic arouses considerable passion in people, but Hoax theorists usually have a scant grasp of basic physics and rely on simple analogies with conditions that they experience on earth.

‘In the lecture I hope to present the audience with the scientific facts and will leave them to reach their own informed conclusions.’

In his talk Dr Hendry will use real Apollo video footage and explore the claims that the theorists cite including the flags that wave, the lack of stars in the lunar sky, footprints in the moondust and deadly solar radiation.

The talk is free, open to the public and takes place at the Poynting Physics Building. 

Ends

Notes to Editors

Talk, Tea and Telescope is a series of public lectures organised by the University of Birmingham’s student society, Astrosoc, and the School of Physics and Astronomy, funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council. The lectures generally take place on a Thursday evening and are followed (dependent on the weather) by night sky observing with a combination of telescopes focusing on the Astronomical society's historic Grubb telescope (dating from 1872). For further information please visit: www.sr.bham.ac.uk/outreach/talktelescope/

For further information

Kate Chapple, Press Officer, University of Birmingham, tel 0121 414 2772 or 07789 921164.